SZA just locked in a major power move with Vans and she’s not just lending her face—she’s running the whole creative show now.
The “Kill Bill” singer scored the title of Artistic Director in a new multi-year collaboration with the skatewear giant and she’s already putting her stamp on everything from visuals to kicks.
The debut campaign, shot by Sophie Jones and styled by Alejandra Hernandez, centers around the Knu Skool—a chunky ’90s-inspired sneaker that SZA’s been rocking for a minute.
“In Vans, I feel free!” she said. “I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years; they’ve always had an ethos I connect with. As Artistic Director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity, and fashion are all still intersectional. That humanity, culture, and connection are still the access points. I’ve learned that bravery and curiosity are the cures for uncertainty; it’s a lifestyle and Vans champions that spirit. They stand where I stand, and I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand Off the Wall with us.”
SZA’s new role means she’ll be hands-on in shaping future drops and campaigns with Vans.
She’s not just talking about it—she’s building the world she wants to see, and inviting others in too.
Murs, a trailblazing voice in the West Coast Hip-Hop scene for more than three decades, has released his final album, Love & Rockets 3:16 (The Emancipation). Produced entirely by Grammy-winner Michael “Seven” Summers, it marks the third installment of his acclaimed trilogy and the end of an era for an artist who consistently defied the mainstream and stood as an ambassador for independent rap.
Murs emerged from Los Angeles’ vibrant indie rap movement in the late 1990s as a founding member of the influential Living Legends collective. Over the years, he became renowned for his honesty, introspective storytelling and relentless work ethic.
Murs’ discography showcases collaborations with icons such as 9th Wonder, Slug (as Felt) and production credits with some of the scene’s most respected names.
In 2014, Murs joined Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label, a significant partnership between two independent Hip-Hop powerhouses. During his tenure, Murs released albums such as Have a Nice Life, Captain California and the collaborative ¡MursDay! project with label mates ¡MAYDAY!, all while upholding the label’s reputation for artistic freedom.
His time at Strange Music was also highlighted by his achievement of the world record for “Longest Rap Marathon,” cementing both his and the label’s status as forces in underground rap. The Strange Music era showcased Murs’ dynamic creativity and further solidified the independence-driven ethos that Strange Music is known for.
Murs is not only celebrated for his expressive lyricism but also for his advocacy for vulnerability and realness in Hip-Hop, addressing personal struggles and broader social issues through his music. His records bridge generations, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Tupac Shakur while influencing contemporary leaders such as Kendrick Lamar and the late Mac Miller.
Whether rapping about superheroes, politics or pain, Murs has consistently delivered substance and creativity, earning the respect of both underground purists and mainstream giants alike.
The Empancipation‘s title pays homage to both Murs’ influential Murs 3:16 album and his journey toward personal liberation. Throughout the 11 tracks, Murs delivers dynamic storytelling and introspection. Find the new album and tracklist below.
Silverlake Rec League
Enjoy f. Nate Curry
Chopper (thisisnotanantipolicesongthisisanantipolicehelicoptersong) f. Reverie
Drake’s requesting access to Kendrick Lamar’s confidential contract has Universal Music Group warning a federal judge that exposing the deal could destabilize its business model and give competitors a strategic edge.
UMG is urging Judge Jeannette A. Vargas to keep Kendrick Lamar’s contract under seal, arguing that even redacted sections reveal sensitive terms that could be weaponized by rival labels or artists during negotiations.
The document was submitted as part of Drake’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against UMG, which stems from Lamar’s 2024 diss track “Not Like Us.”
“If these terms were disclosed, then other artists could use them in their own negotiations with UMG and other record labels could use them when competing with UMG to sign or re-sign artists, including potentially Lamar himself,” UMG’s legal team wrote.
UMG maintained that the contract outlines current business dealings with Lamar and includes proprietary details about the company’s authority over his music and videos.
The label said releasing those terms would harm its ability to negotiate future deals and could damage its relationship with Lamar.
The court filing emphasized that UMG’s contract with Lamar remains active and that both parties expected confidentiality. The company cited legal precedent to support its request, pointing to prior rulings where judges protected business contracts from public disclosure to avoid competitive harm.
Drake’s lawsuit, filed in January 2025, accuses UMG of defamation and alleges the label promoted “Not Like Us” to damage his reputation and pressure him into a less favorable recording deal.
The suit claims the song falsely portrays him as a pedophile and that its release led to three attempted home invasions at his Toronto estate, one of which resulted in his security guard being shot.
Drake also accuses UMG of coordinating a pay-to-play scheme with Spotify, iHeartRadio and social media influencers to artificially boost the song’s exposure.
UMG CEO Lucian Grainge dismissed the lawsuit as “farcical” and said the label had no intention of sabotaging Drake’s career.
“Drake claims that I was behind a scheme to ‘devalue’ his brand through the release and promotion of the Kendrick Lamar recording ‘Not Like
Us’ —an allegation that makes no sense due to the fact that the company that I run, Universal Music Group N.V., has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake, including longstanding and critical financial support for his recording career, the purchase and ownership of the bulk of
his recording catalog, and the purchase of his music publishing rights,” Lucian Grainge said in reply to the lawsuit.
“My focus is on developing and implementing the global strategy that will shape UMG for generations to come. In light of this responsibility, the proposition that I am in the weeds as to the release and promotion of any particular sound recording, from the thousands of UMG releases throughout the world, is farcical,” Grainge added.
UMG has asked the court to dismiss the case, stating that the lyrics in question are artistic opinions, not factual claims.
The court has not yet ruled on whether Kendrick Lamar’s contract will remain sealed.
During a laid-back convo on the New Rory & Mal podcast, Chance said he hasn’t talked to Ye “in a long time” and confirmed his new Star Line album has zero Kanye involvement.
“Nah, there’s nothing from those sessions on this album. There was one that could’ve been raw,” Chance said when asked if any of their old collabs made the cut.
Then he dropped the real: “I haven’t talked to him in a long time. He’s one of the most influential people in my music. He was at my wedding, our kids have hung out together. I’ll always love Kanye, but just being honest, I haven’t talked to him in a while.”
The two go way back. Chance helped with Ye’s The Life of Pablo in 2016, writing and featuring on tracks like “Ultralight Beam,” “Famous,” and “Waves.”
But these days, their paths don’t really cross. Chance said both of them have been tied up doing their own thing.
“I feel like I’ve been hella busy – I’m working on s###. He’s obviously been busy. I be trying not to take opportunities to diss motherkers or add too much to the story.”
Kanye’s name has been all over headlines for the wrong reasons lately.
His antisemitic posts and bizarre praise of Hitler sparked outrage and got him dropped by major brands.
“I let people be people. I’m always gonna have my own opinions and I’ma always state my opinions,” he said. “For the most part, I’ma just be me, I’ma let people be them. And so no, there’s not a time where I’m like, ‘Man, I gotta make sure I hit up Kanye before I put this album out or after I put this album out,’ or anybody.”
Even with the distance, Chance still gives Kanye props for being a major influence, especially with The College Dropout. But don’t hold your breath for a reunion anytime soon.
Chance dropped Star Line on Friday, his first full album since 2019’s The Big Day.
Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier got slapped with a $5 million bounty by the U.S. government after being hit with federal charges tied to gang violence and dirty money in Haiti.
The notorious ex-cop runs the Viv Ansanm gang, a ruthless alliance of armed groups that’s been running wild in Port-au-Prince.
He’s been on the U.S. radar for a minute, but things hit a whole new level when a grand jury indicted him earlier this week for allegedly scheming to dodge sanctions while bankrolling the criminal chaos in Haiti.
Barbecue’s name has been tied to some of the ugliest violence in Haiti, including the brutal 2018 La Saline massacre. That attack left at least 70 people dead, torched hundreds of homes and included reports of sexual assault.
The U.S. says he wasn’t just involved — he ran the whole thing.
The feds also named Bazile Richardson, a U.S. citizen, in the same indictment. They’re accusing him of wiring money from the States to fuel Barbecue’s gang operations.
Chérizier’s gang alliance has been going after key places in Haiti, blowing up infrastructure, busting open prisons, and even messing with the main airport.
That has helped them tighten their grip on the capital and throw the whole country into never-before-seen chaos.
Travis Hunter might be running plays on the field, but off the field, somebody might be running plays on him.
The rumor mill is going crazy and has been for a minute now. They say he faces a $40 million divorce demand. Yeah, fam. The NFL’s young phenom is staring down a settlement request that could wipe out nearly his entire rookie contract. The marriage isn’t over yet, but it’s been only a couple of months. No prenup.
His wife, Leanna Lenee, hit the internet with the crazy tears. In the clip, she’s speaking to the camera and crying. Social media detectives went to work…overtime. There are several theories. Sure, some swore it was proof of cheating but many more went with the prevailing theory: gold digger. The story wrote itself in the comment sections. I literally got my info from the comments. Sad.
There’s a massive “but” here, guys.
Lenee quickly jumped online to shut it down. She said the video was actually from December 2024 and that she’s been on a “spiritual growth” journey since then. OK. She also made it clear she’s not living on Instagram these days, suggesting people put that out there to give the wrong impression of her.
But now there are new rumors. Reports continue to claim she’s filing for divorce and $40 million is the number. The rumors sound real, even if they’re n0t necessarily factually sound. Hunter is so early in his NFL journey, I hope he goes down that road with people loyal to him.
Meanwhile, Travis Hunter hasn’t said a world. Stay focused.
If this is legit, I will have much more to say. For now, Dr. Umar…”Stand Down!”
Jimmie Allen dropped two new tracks this week, merging country storytelling with Hip-Hop rhythm in a nod to Jay-Z while gearing up for his fall U.S. tour.
The Grammy-nominated artist released a two-song pack featuring “Small Town Anthem” and “Beer 99,” showcasing his genre-mixing style that pulls from his diverse musical upbringing.
“Beer 99″ flips a line from Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” into a breezy, bar-ready hook: “I’ve got 99 problems, but a beer ain’t one.”
Allen uses the song to reflect on everyday stress while keeping the mood light and playful.
“My music has been influenced by Hip Hop since the start of my career with my debut single Best Shot,” Jimmie Allen told AllHipHop.
He credits his family for shaping his musical tastes.
“My dad is Delaware and my mother and from Oakland CA. I grew up with a love of country because of my father, a love of Gospel because of my mother and a love of hip hop because of my cousins from the Bay Area. They put me on to so much hip hop and Bay Area Hip-Hop including, E-40, Mac Dre, Too Short,” Jimmie Allen said.
While “Beer 99” leans into Hip-Hop, “Small Town Anthem” stays true to Allen’s country roots.
The song paints a picture of rural life, from long workdays to tailgate parties and church pews.
The dual release follows Allen’s May single “Country Boys Never Learn,” a collaboration with Noah Curtis and Young Grey that has already pulled in 400,000 streams.
Jimmie Allen is set to hit the road again this fall for his “Stories Behind the Songs” tour, kicking off September 5 in Dallas.
Since debuting with “Best Shot” in 2018, Allen has carved out a space in country music by blending sounds from pop, R&B and Hip-Hop. His breakout hit made history as the first debut single by a Black artist to reach No. 1 on country radio.
Allen’s rise continued with a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2022 and wins at both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards in 2021.
His upcoming tour adds to a list of major festival appearances, including Stagecoach, CMA Fest and iHeartCountry Festival.
Lil Yachty dropped a tone-deaf bar during a livestream and now he’s catching serious flak after name-dropping George Floyd in a line that p##### off Floyd’s family and friends.
He rapped: “Put my knee up on her neck, I went George Floyd” during a live session with rapper Plaqueboymax on August 14. Once it hit the internet, people were not feeling it.
Social media lit up with folks calling the line flat-out foul and tasteless, especially considering Floyd’s death is one of the most painful and public tragedies in recent memory.
Terrence Floyd, George’s brother, didn’t hold back when asked how he felt.
I spoke to Terrence Floyd, brother of George Floyd, about the Lil yachty line..
“Put my knee up on her neck I went George Floyd”
.. that yachty previewed on stream with Plaqueboy Max
George Floyd’s brother Terrence tells me exclusively — the mention of George Floyd by Yachty… pic.twitter.com/q2eTEANl1r
He told journalist Loren LoRosa from The Breakfast Club, “I believe it’s inconsiderate. Sometimes this generation doesn’t pay attention to what they say they just want to make a song and just get on the charts and really feel like the people listening will accept it because of who he is. It’s really inconsiderate you should think about what you’re writing.. it may make sense to you, but think about the impact to others.”
He continued, “People are sending the clip to me. I want the line changed. Let my brother rest in peace. It disturbs the family’s peace. There has to be a better message behind any mention of George Floyd’s name. So his legacy can live on beyond what chauvin did to him.”
Stephen Jackson, a former NBA player and longtime friend of George Floyd, also went in on Yachty. In a video post, Jackson said, “Lil Yachty, bro. You been wack, my n####. But you think you saying George Floyd name and trying to use his name in a bar, that’s gonna make people like your wack-ass music, my n####? That’s weak.”
“Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that s### is cool. It ain’t,” he said. “Y’all wanna say his name for clout. That’s some weak-ass s###, Yachty. Let somebody die in your family, we gonna do a whole skit about it. And see how funny it is. Cut that s### out.”
George Floyd was killed in 2020 by former police officer Derek Chauvin, whose knee pressed into Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis. Floyd repeatedly told officers he couldn’t breathe.
His murder sparked global protests and Chauvin was later convicted and sentenced to over 22 years in prison.
Sean Kingston will spend more than three years behind bars after a federal judge sentenced the Hip-Hop artist for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar fraud ring involving high-end goods and fake wire transfers.
On Friday, August 15, a federal court in Fort Lauderdale handed Kingston a three-and-a-half-year term after prosecutors detailed how he and his mother scammed retailers out of luxury items, including a bulletproof Cadillac Escalade, a 232-inch television and pricey jewelry. The court also ordered him to pay $1.17 million in restitution.
Kingston was convicted of conspiring with his mother, Janice Turner, to defraud more than 20 victims out of $3.1 million in goods and services.
The government’s sentencing memo revealed that the original pre-sentencing report failed to include all victims and the full scope of losses. Federal attorneys asked the court to consider the broader damage caused by the scheme, which spanned several years.
“There are 21 people or businesses who lost money because of Sean’s actions,” prosecutors stated. “Sean and his mother tried to steal about $3.1 million.”
Kingston’s mother, Janice Turner, was sentenced on July 23 to five years in federal prison after being convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her sentence and attend a restitution hearing scheduled for October 16.
According to reports, authorities seized several of the luxury items during a raid on their Florida home. Prosecutors said the fraud involved over $3 million in losses.
Kingston, who had been on house arrest, was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing.
Diddy scored a significant legal win in New York after a federal judge dismissed nearly every claim brought against him by Sara Rivers, a former contestant on MTV’s Making the Band 2 and a member of the group Da Band.
U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff ruled that 21 of the 22 claims in Rivers’ $60 million lawsuit had no legal standing or were filed too late.
The only claim left standing accuses Diddy of violating the New York City Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. That claim remains on pause while a federal appeals court weighs whether recent amendments to the statute are valid under state law.
Rivers, who performed with Da Band on the early 2000s reality series, alleged a range of misconduct dating back over two decades. Her lawsuit included accusations of sexual harassment, assault, forced labor and emotional abuse, many of which stemmed from her time on the show.
Rivers’ lawsuit painted a disturbing picture of her time under Diddy’s management. She alleged that he touched her inappropriately during filming, mocked her eating disorder, and forced her to live in shared quarters with male group members despite being married.
She also claimed he threatened violence and made bizarre statements, including allegedly saying he wanted to “eat” someone’s flesh.
The suit also referenced the now-infamous “cheesecake” episode, in which Diddy ordered the group to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn to retrieve dessert. Rivers said the group was paid just $5,000 per episode and received a one-time $25,000 signing bonus, while Diddy profited from their labor.
Diddy and his legal team denied all allegations. In previous statements, they called the lawsuit “meritless” and maintained that the claims were “completely false.”
The court sided with Diddy and dismissed all claims “with prejudice,” meaning they cannot be refiled. Several claims had already been voluntarily dropped by Rivers before the hearing and the judge marked those as moot.
The remaining claim under the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act will remain frozen until the appeals court decides whether the law’s recent changes are enforceable.
Halle Berry had social media users in stitches with her hilarious response to ex-husband David Justice’s comments about their marriage and her not being “motherly” enough.
On her 59th birthday, the Oscar-winning actor posted a series of photos from a tropical vacation with her partner Van Hunt, showing herself relaxing and enjoying wine and cake, alongside a birthday card labeled “Mom” from her children.
Berry captioned the post with “Phew…! cooking, cleaning and mothering,” clearly referencing and mocking Justice’s outdated expectations about her role in their marriage.
She also shared a dismissive GIF featuring Tiffany “New York” Pollard.
Social media lit up with reactions to her posts, with one saying, “Halle said I heard you b###### was looking for me. B#### HERE I GO.”
Another added, “It’s the way @halleberry didn’t have to say a damn thing cause y’all went to town on him for her and she STILL made her way to Beyoncé’s internet to give a subtle smacking not once, but twice.”
Her response came after Justice publicly said he doubted their compatibility because she didn’t cook, clean, or seem motherly.
Justice made headlines earlier this week after revealing on the “All the Smoke” podcast that their marriage ended largely because she didn’t fit his idea of a traditional housewife.
He admitted he agreed to marry Berry after only five months because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, though he was unsure about his true feelings at the time.
Meanwhile, Hunt shared “one of my favourite photos” of Berry on Instagram as a birthday tribute.
“it shows how resilient u are,” he said on the image. “The shots just bounce off u.”
The Cool Kids—the innovative Blog Era-defining duo comprised of Chuck Inglish and Sir Michael Rocks—are back with another new single and video, “Foil Bass,” the second offering from their forthcoming album, Hi-Top Fade.
Toward the end of the visual, there’s a dedication to the late Mac Miller, who died of a drug overdose on September 7, 2018. The track follows “Banana in the Tailpipe,” which arrived last month.
Serving as their sixth studio album, Hi-Top Fade reunites Chuck and Mikey with A-Trak’s label, Fool’s Gold, home of The Cool Kids’ early hits, including “Gold and a Pager” and “88.”
“This track is coming at a perfect time,” Mikey tells AllHipHop. “We’re not here to give you microwaved beats and one-size-fits-all raps. We tapped into that raw energy that made you nod your head to a rap song for the first time. Clever, memorable lines that clearly let you know where we come from—and where we’re headed.”
Chuck adds, “As far as the beat goes, we wanted to make music you could bump in your car.”
Emerging in the mid-2000s, The Cool Kids helped usher in a new era of Hip-Hop by tapping into the do-it-yourself ethos of the digital age: rather than relying on radio, they found massive success on blogs and social media platforms like MySpace, inspiring a young generation of artists to build their own lanes online.
Musically, The Cool Kids are credited with reconnecting contemporary Hip-Hop to its roots—channeling stripped-down, 1980s boom-bap beats and a playful, party-centric attitude—while simultaneously pushing boundaries with fashion, wit and a message of self-expression.
Their influence can be traced through Chicago’s modern rap scene, having encouraged now-prominent acts to embrace individualism and experimentation rather than conform to prevailing mainstream trends. At a time when flashy bravado dominated the rap landscape, The Cool Kids stood out by encouraging listeners to be themselves, sparking a movement that reshaped both the sound and culture of Hip-Hop for a new generation.
Previous releases include 2022’s Before S### Got Weird (Chapter 1), Baby Oil Staircase (Chapter 2) and Chillout (Chapter 3) as well as 2017’s Special Edition Grand Master Deluxe and their 2008 EP, The Bake Sale. Stay tuned for updates on the album release date.
Teyana Taylor was ordered by a Georgia court to pay her ex-husband, Iman Shumpert, $70,000 in legal fees after being found in contempt of court related to their ongoing divorce dispute.
The judge ruled Taylor violated a clause in their 2024 divorce judgment that prohibited either party from disclosing details about the settlement.
Shumpert claimed Taylor breached this agreement when she posted an Instagram video in March 2025 discussing their split, and the court agreed that this was a willful violation.
Teyana Taylor says she has proof that Iman is paying blogs to post things about their divorce.
She claims she’s protected him throughout this entire process and even when she went to him about death threats, he did nothing.
According to Us Weekly, the court dismissed Taylor’s accusations that Shumpert leaked divorce details to the media, noting she failed to provide evidence and lacked diligence in her contempt claim.
Taylor previously accused Shupert of intentionally releasing sealed court records to the media and asked for the judge to sentence him to jail time.
Shumpert claimed it was Taylor who leaked divorce documents and also urged the court to jail Taylor.
Taylor’s request for Shumpert to pay her legal fees was denied, and the judge noted that Taylor refused to answer questions about her financial situation during the case.
The court described Taylor as “willfully” in contempt based on the disclosure and her ability to pay, noting her active career with film and TV projects following the divorce.
Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert were married in 2016 and have two daughters together; Taylor filed for divorce in January 2023, citing “cruel treatment” and accusing Shumpert of emotional abuse, which he denies.
The $70,000 payment to Shumpert’s lawyer is due within two weeks of the court order date.
Teyana Taylor Announces Musical Comeback
Meanwhile, Taylor is gearing up for a return to music after announcing her retirement five years ago. She announced her fourth studio album, Escape Room, set to be released on August 22.
This album marks her return to music after announcing her retirement five years ago; it is her fourth studio album.
Earlier this week, during an appearance on the “Joe and Jada” podcast, she previewed a new song, “The Hard Part,” featuring Lucky Daye.
Universal Music Group (UMG) CEO Lucian Grainge is firing back at Drake’s latest legal push in the rapper’s defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.”
In a sworn declaration, Grainge said he “had never heard” the track — nor seen its cover art or music video — until after Interscope Records released it.
He called any suggestion that he approved or promoted the song “groundless and indeed ridiculous,” stressing that as UMG’s chief executive, his focus is on global strategy, not day-to-day release decisions.
Labeling Drake’s claims “farcical,” Grainge pointed out UMG’s long history of investing in the Toronto superstar, including hundreds of millions of dollars in support, the purchase of most of his recording catalog, and the acquisition of his publishing rights.
The pushback comes after Drake’s attorneys moved to have Grainge added as a document custodian in the case — a move UMG’s lawyers blasted as a “transparent attempt to harass” the company and waste resources “out of spite.”
Drake’s legal team argues that top UMG brass, including Grainge, had contractual authority over Lamar’s music and deliberately released and promoted “Not Like Us” despite knowing it contained defamatory allegations.
They claim UMG sought to devalue Drake’s brand to gain leverage in contract renegotiations, citing internal label competition.
The motion demands Grainge’s emails and texts, Kendrick Lamar’s full contract with UMG, and all documents related to contract negotiations for both artists, as well as any discussions of alleged crimes by Lamar, covering January 2023 through May 2024.
Lil Yachty is facing intense criticism after dropping an eyebrow-raising lyric about George Floyd during Plaqueboymax’s livestream on Thursday (August 14).
In the snippet, Yachty raps, “Put my knee up on her neck, I went George Floyd,” a line that almost immediately set social media ablaze with criticism.
Lil Yachty showcasing a new song on Plaqueboymax's stream with they CRAZIEST bar ever 💀
Many called it tasteless and flat-out disrespectful, given the tragedy of Floyd’s death in 2020.
One person who wasn’t about to let it slide was former NBA player and podcaster Stephen Jackson, a childhood friend of George Floyd.
Jackson tore into Yachty online, saying, “Lil Yachty, bro. You been wack, my n####. But you think you saying George Floyd name, and trying to use his name in a bar, that’s gonna make people like your wack-ass music, my n####? That s### weak.”
He went on to call out what he sees as a broader trend in rap: “Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that s### is cool. It ain’t.”
Jackson didn’t stop there. He warned Yachty to never speak Floyd’s name again, stressing that none of these rappers actually knew him.
“Y’all wanna say his name for clout,” he added. “That’s some weak-ass s###, Yachty. Let somebody die in your family, we gonna do a whole skit about it. And see how funny it is. Cut that s### out.”
Stephen Jackson calls Lil Yachty’s music trash after he used George Floyd’s name in a bar on PlaqueBoyMax’s In The Booth stream👀 pic.twitter.com/VdLxL6w8OC
lil yachty corny. and these stupid ass n##### played this on a big platform and them people who have been making fun of george floyd are gonna be foaming at the mouth even more now.
George Floyd’s death — caused by former officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest — became a defining moment in the fight against police brutality.
His last words, “I can’t breathe,” fueled worldwide protests.
Cardi B lit up the internet with her new single “Imaginary Playerz,” released August 15 as the second offering from her upcoming sophomore album, Am I the Drama? (out September 19, 2025).
The track samples JAY-Z’s 1997 classic “Imaginary Players,” with Hov himself personally signing off on the clearance.
Cardi flexes over the iconic beat, with lines like: “Now I spit that other s###, pretty m########### s###/Cardi B, every song platinum, I’m not the other b####/Whatever you was gon’ pay hеr, you gotta double it/Gloryhole, b###### don’t know who thеy f#####’ with.”
The accompanying music video doubles down on the luxury vibe, with scenes of Cardi on a private jet and yacht.
Speaking in an X Spaces earlier this week, Cardi B revealed that Jay-Z personally had to approve her use of the “Imaginary Players” sample for her upcoming single.
“If he didn’t approve it, I probably wouldn’t even feel a certain type of way neither, because it’s like, ‘OK, maybe I just had to come a little bit harder,'” she explained. “But I’m glad that I came hard and he loved it.”
She also revealed her manager texted to confirm the sample clearance came at exactly 4:44 P.M., a nod to the symbolism of his 4:44 album and her personal angel number.
Cardi B says she received the text that JAY-Z cleared “Imaginary Playerz” at 4:44 PM😯 IYKYK pic.twitter.com/ZKrHR0Ey4E
Cardi B was trending in the top spot on X (Twitter) after the song was released.
Following the release, Cardi trended at No. 1 on X (Twitter), with fans praising her for reviving a classic Hip-Hop feel.
One wrote, “This type of hip hop is missing in today’s music… Cardi bringing some of that Kim/ Foxy, real rap energy back. Setting the bar once again.” Another said, “Just go ahead & give Cardi B her muthafuckin’ 10s!” while a third declared, “OH CARDI B CHEWED THIS UP — SHE’S SO BACK OMFG.”
“Imaginary Playerz” is featured on Am I the Drama?, which is set to be released September 19.
BabyChiefDoIt is stirring up a storm in across rap with a move that’s got the streets divided. The 17-year-old Chicago-bred rapper recently came clean about using ChatGPT to write his lyrics. Why would he cop to this? Now have have to have the what’s “real” in rap debate again. Some say it’s cheating, others call it smart business. I’m not sure, but I know it isn’t Hip-Hop.
Hip-Hop has never been a perfect culture. Ghostwriters have been penning verses for legends (and trash rappers) for decades. Industry plants sprout with fully grown fanbases overnight. AI feels different, but is it? BabyChiefDoIt is just playing by 2025’s rules, not 1995’s…I think.
Using AI is definitely not a scandal or a tragic transgression. He seems to be experimenting with a new tool. Pause. ChatGPT is “the help.” If you can use tech to make the process faster, why not? This isn’t Rakim. And yet, it feels like a rough tumble down a rocky hill.
Older heads are clutching their pearls.
What we can say is the kid is honest. He’s not pretending these bars are all his own. At one point he said he requested somebody to write his next song. He’s straight up, “Yeah, I used AI.”
Rap is changing. I don’t know if this is good or the worst thing ever. Some people think this is an “adapt or die” moment. You can adapt and uphold the standards, too.BabyChiefDoIt will keep his name in the mix and we’ll push his career further just by writing this.
Here are some comments.
“I think there will be a new generation of artist and fans who will have ai normalized and not think anything of this. Personally, I can’t really cosign doing it.” – Rapper and writer Rob Markman
“Using AI like this will lead to the downfall of the entire music industry. Where is the creativity?”
“I’ve never checked him out but he always seemed cool 🙁 lost a lot of respect for this.”
“Man I’d rather write bars off the dome than do s### like this. Where’s the soul & personality to the lyrics? Where’s the authenticity?”
“Your favorite rappers are already doing this”
Rap evolves. I just hope it’s not a devolution in disguise. That is a real thing too. BabyChiefDoIt just might be riding the wave into music history.
A $187,500 concert deposit to book rapper Doechii is at the center of a lawsuit filed by an Atlanta-based event firm that claims it was duped by a fake booking scheme.
Blackout Management LLC says it wired the money to New Jersey booking agent Christopher Young in December 2024, trusting his promise to secure Doechii and SiR for Baltimore’s AFRAM Festival.
Young allegedly claimed he had direct access to the artists through their label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
But according to a federal complaint filed in Atlanta, the deal unraveled by March 2025 when Young suddenly told Blackout the performers were no longer available due to tour commitments.
After months of delays and excuses, Blackout contacted TDE directly and learned Young had never booked Doechii and had only held brief conversations about SiR.
The company says it never received artist contracts, promotional materials or any signed documents. The deposit, it claims, was never passed on to TDE.
Instead, Young and his company, Sacrifice Management LLC, kept the funds.
Blackout demanded a refund. Young allegedly agreed—twice. He signed settlement agreements in May and July 2025 but failed to pay either time, according to the lawsuit.
Now, Blackout is suing for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conversion, unjust enrichment and other claims. The company is asking for at least $187,500 in damages, plus interest, legal fees and punitive damages.
The AFRAM Festival, held annually in Baltimore, is one of the largest cultural events on the East Coast and draws over 150,000 attendees per day. It serves as the city’s official Juneteenth celebration.
Sadly, this isn’t the only recent case of a concert deal gone wrong involving a major Hip-Hop artist,
Esmail Entertainment filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against Shaw Management Enterprises over a canceled GloRilla show scheduled for September 6, 2025, in Cleveland.
Esmail’s lawsuit includes six claims, including fraud and civil theft. It also accuses Shaw of interfering with business operations after abruptly halting event promotion just two days after ticket sales began.
Wendy Williams’ court-ordered guardianship will remain in place after doctors reaffirmed she is living with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, People reported.
The 60-year-old former talk show host underwent a detailed medical evaluation that included neuropsychological testing and brain imaging, according to court documents cited by the outlet. Physicians concluded she continues to experience the same conditions first identified in 2023.
Williams has been under the care of a court-appointed guardian, attorney Sabrina Morrissey, since May 2022. Morrissey oversees both her financial matters and medical needs while the arrangement faces challenges from relatives and her ex-husband, Kevin Hunter.
During a recent hearing, the guardian’s legal team requested that the arrangement be extended through November 3, 2025. Judge Sokoloff, who is presiding over the case, will determine whether Morrissey should remain in that role.
In February 2024, Williams’ medical team made her diagnosis public, explaining that the progressive neurological conditions were already impacting her speech and cognitive abilities.
“The decision to share this news was difficult and made after careful consideration, not only to advocate for understanding and compassion for Wendy, but to raise awareness about aphasia and frontotemporal dementia and support the thousands of others facing similar circumstances,” they said. “Unfortunately, many individuals diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia face stigma and misunderstanding, particularly when they begin to exhibit behavioral changes but have not yet received a diagnosis,” Wendy Williams’ care team said at the team.
Frontotemporal dementia affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, while aphasia limits the ability to communicate.
The court has continued to side with medical experts, concluding that professional oversight remains necessary for her safety and well-being. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with both family and former spouse pressing for changes to the arrangement.
Williams’ attorney Joe Tacopina spoke to TMZ and said the assumed diagnosis is being weaponized by people with a “vested interest in keeping Wendy trapped under this excessive and restrictive guardianship.”
“Who is the doctor willing to go under oath and face cross-examination by me so the truth can be exposed?” Tacopina said.
For now, Williams’ finances and health care decisions will stay in the hands of her guardian, as the court weighs the competing claims ahead of the November 2025 deadline.
Jussie Smollett and the polarizing saga surrounding his 2019 hate crime report are back in the spotlight as Netflix prepares to release a new documentary that reopens the case and questions everything the public thought they knew.
Titled The Truth About Jussie Smollett?, the film drops August 22 and dives headfirst into the high-profile investigation that gripped headlines and fueled national debate.
Directed by Gagan Rehill and produced by RAW—the team behind Don’t F**k With Cats and The Tinder Swindler—the documentary features interviews with police officials, legal experts, journalists and Smollett himself.
The film promises to shed light on what some claim is newly uncovered evidence.
Smollett, who rose to fame on the hit series Empire, made headlines in January 2019 when he told Chicago police he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack.
He said two MAGA men used slurs, poured a chemical on him and placed a noose around his neck.
In the trailer, former Chicago Police Department detective Melissa Staples recalls her initial reaction.
“They see an actor called Jussie Smollett with a noose around his neck. He says he was the victim of a hate crime. I thought it was a horrible crime at first until it started to fall apart,” she said.
Then-superintendent Eddie Johnson also expressed doubts early in the case.
“Some elements struck me as a bit peculiar. We were experiencing a polar vortex at that time. Who would be outside in such frigid conditions,” Johnson said.
After a lengthy investigation, Chicago police concluded Smollett staged the attack and hired two brothers to carry it out. He was charged with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false report.
A jury convicted Smollett in December 2021 on five counts of lying to police. But in November 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the convictions, ruling that the second prosecution violated his due process rights based on the original agreement with prosecutors.
